Wednesday 9 March 1663/64

Up pretty betimes to my office, where all day long, but a little at home at dinner, at my office finishing all things about Mr. Wood’s contract for masts, wherein I am sure I shall save the King 400l. before I have done. At night home to supper and to bed.

"I am sure I shall save the King 400l. before I have done" It's this attitude which justifies Bryant's appellation of "The Saviour of the Navy". Nice that Sam mentions this and does *not* mention how much he might make in perks........

Interesting...And fortunate for us...That Wood doesn't take a more direct approach as regards persuading Mr. P of the worthiness of his product.

"Can you see now, sir, how well Wood and masts go together?" one of the four hooded and masked figures standing over the bleeding, battered...If he thought his eye was bad the other day, wait till tomorrow...Clerk of the Acts.

"Howe?" Pepys gasps through broken teeth, looking up.

Oh-oh. Creed, one of the four sighs.

"I thought I disguised my voice." Howe notes apologetically as he and Creed wave the other two off in the direction of the Thames, dragging a bloodied, still form in the dirt and muck behind them. Creed shaking a hooded head at his partner.

On the other hand...Vacancy at the Naval Office, Howethinks, rather contentedly.

"Pepys's motives in all this were undoubtedly mixed. He had an authentic desire to secure the best deal for the King, and took pleasure in conducting a large transaction for its own sake. Batten's discomfiture was certainly intended, and Pepys's pained reaction to it was pure cant. Naturally Pepys expected a sweetener, and in February 1664 Warren duly slipped him 40L - a modest 1.3 per cent commission which was a trivial expense for Warren. Pepys, however, was so pleased that he could scarcely eat; even so, it was not the best bonus he had so far received. Just a few days before Dering had given him 50L, and (slight spoilers coming) during the whole of 1664 he netted 444L 'other gain' beyond official fees of 305L. And to come there would be more Navy contracts for Warren, more bounty for Pepys: in total Warren provided 990L out of the 2,566L 'other gain' Pepys acknowledged between 1660 and 1669."